PHNOM PENH: This week, Cambodia's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, H.E. Dith Tina, welcomed and supported the investment of nests for export to the Chinese market. The announcement was made on the occasion that His Excellency received a courtesy call on the delegation of Yan'an Chou Group.

The Minister recommended that the company should study the market needs, standards, prices, and procedures to be legal, as well as cooperate with the private sector to procure, produce, and process for export of bird's nests to China.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries's latest reports, China shipped 689,702 tonnes of Cambodian agricultural products last year including milled rice, yellow bananas, mangoes, cassava, cashew nuts, corn, longans, and pepper, among others.

Recently, both countries have begun efforts to establish the “Fish and Rice Corridor” in northwestern Cambodia, specifically in the Tonle Sap Lake area, with an aim to develop a modern ecological agricultural belt near Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.

Vichet Lor, Vice-President of Cambodia Chinese Commerce Association (CCCA), highlighted the significance of the Cambodia-China Fish Rice Corridor, which is a milestone in agricultural cooperation.

“The Cambodia-China Fish Rice Corridor is an initiative by leaders of both countries leader to fulfill a community of common destiny in the new digital era of economic integration. It works hand in hand with the Industrial Development Corridor to support Cambodia's transition to become an upper-middle country in 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.”

Vichet pointed out that the initiative will pave the way for Cambodia to become a modern agricultural center by accelerating the modernization of its agriculture technologies and enhancing the quality and competitiveness of its agricultural products to the Chinese market.

“This initiative coupled with the Cambodia-China FTA will further accelerate Cambodia's economic growth through increased exports and jobs creation for farmers.”

Cambodia now exports 27 kinds of agricultural products to China. The National Policy on Cassava 2020-2025 is a significant step towards developing Cambodia's cassava industry and expanding its export market.